Just dropping this quick link to a Dan Ozzi piece on Noisey, because it really resonates. The personal is political, as they say:

Run the Jewels Made the Most Punk Album of the Year: “A strange fear has arisen in punk, a fear of inviting the stigma that comes with being labeled a “political punk band,” as if all punk somehow wasn’t inherently political to begin with. Perhaps it stems from not wanting to end up with an increasingly outdated catalog. Perhaps it’s to avoid alienating fans. And perhaps it’s due to the increasingly PC punk fans (who, let’s face it, are largely white) being too afraid to speak on behalf of oppressed minorities. Killer Mike didn’t seem too concerned with donning the “political” label. Likely because for him, it’s more personal than political. As a black male in America, he doesn’t have the privilege of choosing to be a political or apolitical artist. His back is against the wall and, as has become the rallying cry of the year, he can’t breathe.”

Ozzi points out the bands still flying the proudly political flag, like Propagandhi and Paint it Black, but doesn’t bring up how disappointing it was when Joe Queer defended Mike Brown’s killer, and in turn Joe was defended by Ben Weasel. Ugh. Anyway, it’s worth reading. And Run the Jewels are worth blasting out of whatever speakers you got.

Denver, Colorado. Traffic sucks, the bar me and my band played was fucking weird but these dudes were awesome as shit onstage and off and that totes made up for it. Just super fucking loud, brutal, pummeling hardcore noise. Disjointed, strange and also quite fun to watch.

Inspired by a post over at For the Love of Punk, I’ve decided to come up with super valid reasons why you (and “you” here means bands on Dirtnap and Relapse records, for my part) should really play Missoula on your next tour. I can prove that we are even cooler than Detroit, in fact. To wit:

1. We aren’t a bunch of fashion punks, unless you count the slutty dresses I buy at Wet Seal as “fashion” (and I do.) Hell, a lot of Montanans don’t even wear clothes. Our body hair is just naturally buffalo-check-flannel pattern.

2. Our shows are DIY. I mean, how could they not be? Out here in the sticks, everything is DIY. When I’m not at the office, I’m raising goats, spinning yarn and building my own yurt.

3. We can fill shows, sometimes. This is true: if a show is 18-plus, and promoted via posters and Facebook, and happens at a well-known bar on the night after a major football game, a ton of people will show up and only some of them will pass out facedown on a table in the back.

4. Yes, there is a risk that you will die in a fiery car wreck on the snowy, icy mountain passes on the way to and fro. This risk is only October through June, though.

5. Burns St. Bistro is the best. It hasn’t been around super long, but it’s already the go-to hangover brunch spot where you slurp BYOB mimosas if you like and await a gleaming Marty’s arrival. (If you play a show here, you’ll know Marty by now.) Just don’t pull a Red Fang and hang out for two hours on a busy Sunday.

6. The people here are really nice. Seriously, we smile at each other on the street even when it’s inadvisable. We have to be nice, because we all know each other and probably dated each other at one point or another.

7. You made my favorite music. Seriously, bands, local punx are sorta hard up for entertainment of the non-bluegrass or EDM variety ’round these parts, and I will lose my mind if I get to see you in my hometown. One time Drag the River played here on a quiet Sunday, and only 10 people showed up, but those 10 people almost smothered Drag the River with their affection, sing-alongs and free shots of whiskey. I watched Chad Price take six or seven shots of whiskey just while playing his set. That’s how much we will love you to death here.

8. Rock Lotto. Seeing Rock Lotto wouldn’t make a whole ton of sense if you didn’t know the motley crew of musicians who reside here, but it’s a hell-of-fun annual show in February where randomly assigned musicians show off the crazy bands they’ve put together in a couple month’s time. We make homemade T-shirts for it and stuff. It’s heartwarming. This year one of the bands has to cover 4 Non Blondes. I am stoked.

9. We have our own memes! Mostly they are about Marty. (Courtesy of Kyle “Screamin’ Eagle of Lefse” Kulseth.)

10. We are more hospitable than your grandmother. Most of the credit for this goes to Marty (you met Marty, right?), because if he loves you, he will make you dinner according to your dietary preferences (his vegan chili’s pretty good) and then stock up on whatever booze you like and have you over for a party at his house after the show. Goes without saying that you will have a place to stay. Mean Jeans drank Jager shots out of a spoon at his house just last month. You, too, could drink Jager out of the same spoon as Mean Jeans. Come play Missoula!

(If you want to get mad at me about this, go look up “humor” in the dictionary.)

P.P.S. we have a thing called Total Fest in August. Visit totalfest.org or email total.fest.organizer@gmail.com.

Well, I am almost ready to give 2014 the boot, soon as I finish my Christmas knitting. (When I party, I party hard, thank yew.) Anyway, here’s some of my favorite albums/singles/whathaveyou, some from this year, some not. Feel free to mock my choices.

10. Antarctigo Vespucci’s “I’m Giving Up on U2”: This is the collaboration between Chris Farren from Fake Problems and Jeff Rosenstock from BTMI, and it is as power-poppy and anthemic as you could hope for. The rest of the album is great, too, but the power chords on this one. Man.

9. Cory Branan, No-Hit Wonder. When I first checked it out (and reviewed it for the Indy using my big fancy words), I was all about the wonderfully bitter ‘The Only You,” which starts, “I got me another girl, she looks like you at 23/ While she sleeps I trace the places where your tattoos used to be.” But since then, I’ve also dug “You Make Me” and basically the rest of the album; it’s cohesive, modern country and rock in the best way. Although nothing on it beats “Prettiest Waitress in Memphis,” but then again, few things do.

8. Lizzo’s Lizzobangers: This Minneapolis rapper kicks ASS, holy shit. Best kinda pump-you-up “I am a badass” tunes of this year. I wanna go out and fight somebody after I listen to her.

7. The Menzingers, Rented World: Of COURSE I had to put the ‘zingers on here (by the way, Google “Memezingers” for jokes that are only hilarious if you are a nerd about their lyrics). I also got to see them and Off With Their Heads when I went to Phoenix in February, which is as close to Fest as I got to be this year [insert sad face] but it was still a magnificent evening. I think I met them and one of the dudes from Andrew Jackson Jihad, but I had taken my glasses off and drank several beers, so I do not specifically recall whom I talked to. But I am still claiming it as a real thing that happened.

6. Tweens, S/T: I dunno if y’all remember seeing Tweens last year at the VFW, but I do, though I cannot for the life of me remember who they opened for (Nervosas maybe???). Nonetheless, I remember really digging the gleeful vocals from their petite singer gal. Their album is chock full of garage-y goodness, with a neat distinctive guitar tone, with standout racks like “Be Mean” and “Girlfriend” being independent you-go-girl kinda instant pop classics. Fun fact: I first downloaded this album just for the bonus track “I’m Gonna Steal Your Boyfriend,” which is so amazing and snarky. (You can listen to it on Spotify, btw.)

5. Joyce Manor’s Never Hungover Again. All of the boners for Joyce Manor, always, even though now NPR has written about them, waaaah. Joyce Manor makes rock that, I can guarantee, I would have loved just as much as a 15-year-old as I do as a 25-year-old; it’s hella angsty, but in a mature way, if that makes any sense.

4. Against Me! “Black Me Out”: I haven’t seen Against Me’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues on many lists; maybe people have forgotten about it since it came out earlier in the year. I have many feelings about Against Me–namely, that the current band might as well have a different name than the iteration that put out Eternal Cowboy, and it’s silly to compare the two– but Laura’s chops have only improved. And “Black me out! I’m gonna piss on the walls of your house!” cannot be denied and you HAVE to sing it while you’re sitting in traffic and weird out the other drivers who can see you.

3. Hospital Job’s The Believer: If you want super-tight, rippin’ good pop punk from members of the Copyrights about being pissed off, this is it. Plus, they played the Palace in spring (April? May? my memory fails me) and were rad dudes.

2. The Creeps’ Eulogies: This Ottowa-based outfit hits a lot of the same sweet spots as Alkaline Trio does for me (namely driving, anthemic pop punk about depression and murder and shit) and as such, it is exuberantly cathartic. Bonus: this band shares members with the awesomely dark and dramatic Crusades, who you should also be listening to. (Hi, can I move to Canada now?)

1. Teenage Exorcists S/T EP. Oh man, how this short, sugar-sweet garage-pop confection lights up my brain. While it didn’t come out this year, I did first hear it in spring, and this is my list, so bite me. Teenage Exorcists are the only thing I’ve heard this year that I always have to listen to if they come up on shuffle. This EP is the first thing I reach for when I have a crush on somebody (which changes from week to week, ha) or just when I’m going on a run and really wanna feel motivated. “I want to be your dog/I want to eat you up/I just want to get stuck inside your head just like your favorite song.” Such good stuff. And it’s free to download on ye olde Bandcamp. Really hoping to see more from this new-ish Cali band.

Oh and bonus pick: Prince’s new album is AMAZEBALLS, and I got it for free because my mom bought it and said it was “too electronic” for her. Double bonus pick because I’m just listening to it right now: D’Angelo’s smooth-as-silk boner-riffic Black Messiah.

If you wanna submit your Top Ten, feel free to email me at missoulapunknews [at] gmail dot com. Party on.

Rock Lotto is happening! In February! Last night was the “drawing” (highly random, I’m sure) that assigned musicians into bands. Many half-price drinks at the VFW ensued in celebration of community spirit. Today is uuuuugh.

Also, walking home at midnight on Sunday in some Jack the Ripper London-levels of creepy fog, I saw some dude standing in the Kettlehouse northside parking lot, with a hoodie on, just staring across the street. So, that’s the creepiest goddamn thing ever. I am glad I am not currently murdered!

I spent most of Sunday listening to the Serial podcast, which is contributing to my paranoia that I’m gonna get murdered.

hey all, I’m about to float off into the evening for First Friday and Maulers game shenanigans (we’re gonna make the concessions stand serve us nacho cheese in a trough, as God intended) but first, I thought I’d post the Judgmental Maps edition for Missoula, in case you somehow have not seen it. I live near “Professional Spangers” and “Gentrifying.” Northside represent! A friend of mine said she checked the Minneapolis one to figure out a good neighborhood to move into. Lol.

Anyhoo, I had never heard of Judgmental Maps prior to this, but it’s a thing started by a comedian and people can just submit one for their city anonymously. So let’s all start rampantly speculating who could have submitted the Missoula edition. I mean, it’s even got the Satanic temple listed, and all the spots where cop cars lurk. Also not sure that the Smalldickville designation is all that well deserved; I mean, um… *whistles* never mind, go ask your mother.